Skye Stories: Volume 2 the Road to Uig

By Raymond Moore

Although the series of books are about Skye and the author's love for the island, the account of his experiences and emotions will strike a chord with people who have never been near there. Skye changed the author's life forever and for the better. You could say the Isle of Skye saved his life. This book, Volume 2, tells the continuing story of the author's years on Skye as he moved out of the family home and into Uig.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Redshank Books
• Release date: Jun 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9781912969289

Raymond Moore

Raymond Moore is a Registered Nurse, working for The Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs in Saudi Arabia. As well as being a writer, Raymond has been a record label owner, band manager, and cover band. Born and brought up in Glasgow, he left his parents and moved to the Isle of Skye as a young teenager. Raymond is the author of the Skye Stories Trilogy available on Redshank Books and has self-published two poetry collections on Amazon. Poetry? Maybe and Poetry? Probably Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll and Nursing is his first novel. When not at work he spends his time with his wife who is Thai and their three children in Surin Province where he has a house and farm. He is currently working on his next book Castledawn a ghost story set on the Isle of Skye in the nineteen seventies.

Book preview

Imprint

First published in 2021 by Redshank Books

Redshank Books is an imprint of Libri Publishing.

Copyright © Libri Publishing.

The right of Raymond Moore to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.

ISBN 978-1-912969-20-3

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright holder for which application should be addressed in the first instance to the publishers. No liability shall be attached to the author, the copyright holder or the publishers for loss or damage of any nature suffered as a result of reliance on the reproduction of any of the contents of this publication or any errors or omissions in its contents.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from The British Library

Cover and book design by Carnegie Publishing

Libri Publishing

Brunel House

Volunteer Way

Faringdon

Oxfordshire

SN7 7YR

Tel: [phone]

www.libripublishing.co.uk

What readers thought of Skye Stories Volume 1

‘My first trip ever to Skye was postponed due to lockdown. This entertaining book has inspired me to visit as soon as possible! It’s a great mix of stories and poems – all told with warmth and humour this reminds me why so many of my country people (Germany) like so much to visit.’ LH

‘Loved reading all the stories of the north end of Skye. Thanks Raymond – looking forward to volume 2.’ MM

‘Skye Stories ...by Raymond Moore!! Fabulous book. A must read especially if you come from the north end of Skye! Really enjoyed reading it. I could relate to much that he wrote in this book and it brought back pleasant memories.’ AM

‘Thoroughly enjoyed the debut! Great memories from Raymond which take me back to the 70s and ‘80s and make me want to visit Skye ASAP! A happy read which has laughs, memories, nostalgia – well done!’ WK

‘Couldn’t wait for this book to arrive. A very enjoyable read – brought back so many memories of my time spent on Skye on holiday and visiting family there. And of one family in particular. Would highly recommend this book to anyone who has a love of Skye and its people... The real Skye... Thank you Raymond... Can’t wait for volume 2.’ SF

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my Mum, Catherine ‘Rene’ Moore. Love You.

Mum Linicro 2016

Foreword

Raymond has written a fascinating account of his years spent in the north of Skye. Over the centuries the diaspora of Skye have longed for their ancestral home. Raymond as a son of Skye was given that opportunity of leaving the West of Scotland to embrace as a young teenager all that Skye would throw at him.

Urban Scotland and Skye can be described as worlds apart, experiences may be different but, in some respects, it is the same journey for a young person on their own rites of passage to adulthood. Making friendships, exploring boundaries, experiencing music would have been common themes for any young person whether on Skye or in Glasgow but it is the human aspect of the personalities on Skye that make this book, as well as the first volume, an enjoyable read.

Skye is shaped by many things, its landscape, the environment, its history, its language but above all it is shaped by its people. The island is full of characters and, in this book, Raymond details many of those who were in his orbit in Trotternish as well as at school in Portree. Whether you are from Skye and will know many of the people in this book, or from elsewhere you can relate to the people who make this island so special.

Raymond may be a long way and a long time from the island, the blood and the memories remain strong nonetheless.

Ian Blackford

MP for Ross, Skye & Lochaber

15th February 2021

Introduction

I would like to extend my gratitude to each and every one of your beautiful eyes. My assumption is that you have bought Skye Stories Volume 2 because you read and enjoyed Volume 1. This warms the heart of my cockles. So, as we say here in the desert of Saudi Arabia, Shokran Jazeelan (Tapadh Leat for Gaelic speakers. ‘Thank You’ for English speakers).

Before I begin, I’ve been asked by my editor Steve, who, through no fault of his own is English and wants to know how to pronounce Uig. Many of you who have worked in the Skye service industries no doubt has had to hear Uig being pronounced You-Ig. I know that I heard this many, many times. Rather than seem rude and correct the You-Ig say(er). My ploy was to repeat what they had just said but pronounce Uig the correct way…which is Ooh-Ig. Uig means ‘bay’. When I worked at Ooh-Ig Hotel, there was one Eastern Scottish coach driver who would slow down at the top of Uig, by the Earlish cliffs so that his passengers could get a right good look at the stunning view – Ooh-Ig in all its finery. Those of you who have stopped there know what I’m talking about. Those of you that have not, need to get yourselves there ASAP (ish). It’s spectacular, especially if you’re lucky enough to have blue skies overhead and a hot sun beating down on your napper. Anyway, this driver would always say: ‘And here is Uig. Notice I don’t say…and here is Uig bay because if I did, I would be saying here is Bay bay. Uig is Norse for bay you see.’ The driver said that every effin’ time…and got a laugh.

It boggles my mind that I’m writing an introduction to my second book. Those of you who know me are familiar with my medical condition, chronic laziness. The fact that I’ve managed to get up off my backside and write two volumes is purely down to the support and encouragement I’ve received on social media for my stories and poems. You all know who you are.

Skye Stories Volume 2 sees me older but not much wiser. My Linicro time is coming to a close and fate has something else up its sleeve for me. What it didn’t have was the likelihood of getting a girlfriend, but I could always daydream. The ever-present threat of having to return to Glasgow hung heavy over me and I’d resigned myself to the fact that I would be Springburn bound at 16 years old. Through a series of fortunate events, things didn’t quite play out that way.

Entering fourth year at school in Portree, I was a mass of hormones and spots. This would be the year when I realised that I’d better actually do some work and try to get a couple of O Levels. Thoughts of a career in Nursing had yet to enter my head and the most important things in my life were music, friends, fun and trying to find love. Walking the corridors of Portree High I was no longer the squeaky voiced Weegie with black flares and a threadbare grey jumper. My voice had lowered and my Glaswegian accent softened.

I invite you to join me on the second part of my journey on the Isle of Skye. Read on to discover what new music I found. What new clothes I wore, and did I ever find a girl to kiss? Through my wee stories and poems, I hope to convey how important my time on the Island was and how those five years continue to impact my life today. As I sit here in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, typing these words during a pandemic, I find that my memories of Skye offer me a great deal of comfort and a certain number of chuckles. My goal, as always, is to entertain and hopefully give you a wee laugh. For those readers who have yet to set foot on Skye, I hope these pages spark a desire for you to visit my spiritual home. If you ever make it to the North End and pass Linicro will you have a look for my bike? I’m sure it’s there, somewhere.

Last Night

Last night I had a dream that I was back on the Isle of Skye

Soaring across the Linicro rocks on an eagle’s breath so high.

Last night I dreamt I heard my Granny sing in the corner of my bedroom

The sound of Gillean mo rùin as clear and crystal to vanquish the Saudi gloom.

Last night I dreamt of my Aunt Margaret’s scones all treacle sweet and butter melted

In my dream her face was kind and happy and I spoke of what we left unsaid.

Last night I dreamt I was in the living room of the family Macinnes in Totescore

The old man in his chair his wife in the pantry and all of us were young once more.

Last night I dreamt of a high school dance and my eyes were glued to Christine

No longer unavailable and out of reach just waiting to kiss this boy of sixteen.

Last night I dreamt of a drunken night of fun staggering out of the Ferry Inn

In the morning light of Uig we awoke with no hangover as we let our shift begin.

Last night I held the hand of a summer love and a Pernod kiss so sweet

And for a moment a lifetime passed as my last summer became complete.

Last night I dreamt of a life I led and my heart and soul filled with pride

For a moment I swear I was on the hill with my wife and kids by my side.

Glossary

As with Skye Stories Volume 1 I have included this glossary so the word feast your beautiful eyes are about to eat has an explanation of the unfamiliar words I have typed. Having spent 12 years in Glasgow, 5 years on Skye, 14 years in Edinburgh and over 20 years in the Middle East my accent and dialect are a wee bit mixed up (to say the very least). In my hopeful attempt at being funny and entertaining I use Gaelic, Glasgow and Scottish words to describe my Highland adventures. I also use, what Steve, my editor calls ‘Mooreisms’ or ‘made up words’ e.g. chesticles! Should any word confuse you please refer to this glossary for a relatively poor explanation of what they mean. For aficionados of the beautiful Gaelic language accept my apology in advance of any spelling mistakes. Saudi Arabia is a veritable desert for finding a fluent Gaelic speaker! Sometimes words that I thought were Gaelic were Arabic and vice versa. My Arabic is about as good as my Gaelic!

With regards to my poems, I defend my use of certain words (including Mooreisms) using the shield of ‘poetic licence’. My aim is to entertain and to engage people like myself who do not read much poetry in their daily life. Forget about iambic pentameter or heroic couplets and read them like you would a lyric sheet that accompanies your favourite album. I find that the rhyming poems work better if you read them fast in a faux Glasgow accent! If it seems I’m obsessed with passing place signs, tractors, hills and heather, mountains in the distance and the salty sea then I plead guilty as charged. I also appear to use the word God frequently in a number of my poems. When you read God think love because that’s what I mean.

For those who have never experienced the beauty of Eilean a’ Cheo (see glossary) my fervent hope is that my writings will spark a wee flame of desire and that you one day get over the sea to Skye.

An Buth Bheag – Gaelic for the small shop. An Buth Bheag was a candy shop on Wentworth Street, Portree.

Athens of the North – A name for the city of Edinburgh. Given when the city’s ‘New Town’ was built between 1757 and 1850 for the rich folks. Thus, separating them from the smelly poor folk of the ‘Old Town’

Auld Reekie – A name by which the city of Edinburgh is known. A few hundred years ago Edinburgh’s ‘Old Town’ was over-populated and had very poor sanitation. The tendency for people to empty their chamber pots onto the streets gave the place its individual aroma (reek) or hence Auld or Old Reekie.

Bahoochy – Bum or backside. A much-used term in this part of the world.

Baldy – Someone with male pattern baldness. Frequently accompanied with a comb-over.

Battered – Meaning beat up or assault. Used a lot in Glasgow as a threat. ‘I’m gonna batter ye’.

Bealach – Gaelic for small mountain pass. Used to describe the back road to Staffin by locals. Also, a shortcut down the hill from the top of Uig.

Bi samhach – Gaelic for ‘be quiet’ as in shut your mouth! Or as we say in Glasgow ‘shut yer geggie’

The blaes – The name by which our school’s ‘red ash’ sports pitch was known. Why? I don’t know!

Bodach – Gaelic for old man. Used as a term of endearment to describe your Skye Dad.

The bog – Toilet or an area of muddy land. As in ‘Where’s your bog I need to pee’.

Bogging black – Very dirty. As in lifting the peats made my hands bogging black! Frequently used to describe dirt-covered kids.

Braces – Elasticated over shoulder belt for holding up your troosers!

Brass neck – Not shy, overconfident, used a lot in Glasgow particularly when one is ‘trying it on’. As in ‘he had the brass neck to ask me out when he knew I had a boyfriend’.

Braw – A Scottish word for great, beautiful, brilliant, wonderful.

Breeks – Trousers as in troosers.

Burn – A Scottish stream of water. The burn besides the wee hoose only ran when it was pouring down. No water flowed during sunny summer (which wasn’t that often).

But and Ben – Scottish for a wee house that lacks many creature comforts!

Byre – A Scottish barn for wintering livestock. Also, a good place to hide to get out of chores. Unless the chores were to ‘muck out the byre’.

Caileach – Gaelic for old woman. Used as a term of endearment to describe your Skye Mum. Or my Great Aunt Margaret and Great Grannie Annie.

Caileag – Gaelic for girl or a young lassie. Common name for female dogs. Was the name of our Collie during my time in Linicro.

Camus Beag – Gaelic for small bay or harbour. An area by the sea in Earlish, Uig.

Camus Mor – Gaelic for big bay or harbour. An area by the sea in Kilmuir.

Captain Frazer’s Folly – A nineteenth-century folly situated across from Uig Hotel. My life changed one summer night beneath the folly.

Castle Ewan – A rocky outcrop in the Fairy Glen. Not an actual castle. If you want to impress a girl take her to the Fairy Glen. I did – and it worked wonders!

Chesticles – Meaning breasticles or ladies’ upper frontal area.

Cludgie – Toilet. Rhymes with budgie as in my ex-Edinburgh flat mates’ song ‘Today I flushed my budgie doon the cludgie’.

Coil – A hay mound. Made by crofters when their hay was dry. Not made well by me. Precursor to individual coils being made into bigger haystacks.

Cracking – A beauty, the best. As in ‘that’s a cracking book you have just written Raymond’.

The dipper – A chemical bath for sheep generally for removing unwanted beasties. Found in a fank.

Dose gun – A gun for administering anti-worm medicine to sheep.

Doon – I think it’s from Glasgow. It means down as in ‘I’m going doon to the pub’. Which is something I have never said in Saudi Arabia!

Dram – A measure of alcohol usually used along with whisky. Nonspecific on how big or small the drink might be.

Deoch – Gaelic for drink. Can be used endearingly like